MUSÉE - ABBAYE SAINT-GERMAIN
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A three-level museum presenting exceptional evidence of the town's and region's past.
Along with the Cathédrale Saint-Etienne, this is the other jewel of Auxerre's heritage. A marvel whose origins date back to the5th century, when the remains of Bishop Saint Germain (who died in Ravenna in 448) were brought back to his diocese of Auxerre. Legend has it that, with his passing, nature blossomed anew. In the 6th century, Queen Clotilde (Clovis' wife) had a basilica built on the oratory where the saint was buried. Enlarged in the 9th century, the former Carolingian and Romanesque abbey was partly rebuilt between the 13th and 15th centuries. Don't leave without visiting the crypt: built from 841 onwards, it was the site of Saint Germain's tomb and today houses the oldest Carolingian wall paintings in France.
The museum is also a must-see. On three levels, it presents exceptional evidence of the town's and the region's past, from prehistory to the end of the Middle Ages - and not only, since temporary exhibitions are also on offer (including, for several years now, collaborations with the Centre Pompidou).
What's more, the abbey has undergone significant development. For example, it hosts concerts, exhibitions and festivals throughout the year. in 2024, the abbey will be undergoing major renovation work, the first stage in a far-reaching transformation that will eventually give an even greater dimension to this major site, which is still too little known in France.
Il faut voir les bâtiments abbatiaux: la salle capitulaire, l'ancien cellier, le cloître et le dortoir des moines et bien sûr, l'abbaye et sa crypte.
On peut y passer en remontant le temps de l'Antiquité avec la période gallo-romaine à l'époque médiévale une journée entière dans un cadre reposant, au milieu d'un personnel très agréable et toujours prêt à vous renseigner.
Les abords extérieurs avec les restes de l'ancienne enceinte et sa tour sont fort pittoresques.
L'entrée de la crypte carolingienne et la visite guidée sont payantes mais c'est remarquable.